Pyrotechnic alarm and system involving the same



Oct. 9, 1928.

H. C. GAMMETER PYROTEOHNIC ALARM AND SYSTEM INVOLVING THE SAME Filed April 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet NVENTOR JHZM QD Pawm Oct. 9, 1928. 1,687,159

- H. C. GAMMETER PYROTECHNIC ALARM AND SYSTEM INVOLVING THE SAME Filed April 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Get. 9, 1928.

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HARRY c. GAMMETER, or oLEvELaivn HEIGHTS, OHIO.

Application filed April 8,

This invention relates to a pyrotechnic alarm, and more particularly to a system involving the same that is adapted to the protection of homes, banks, and other institutions, :in that it provides a ready means of spreading an alarm throughout a neighborhood in case or fire, theit, burglary or other emergency wherein outside aid is desired at the source of trouble, or in apprehending the escaping culprit.

The alarm or signal, per se, is similar to. that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 100,750 filed April 8, 1-926, and entitled Pyrotechnic signal, but the present device is adapted to the. system disclosed herein by reason of the fact that it is electrically operated and therefore can be set oil projectile and a flare, the ztormer being thrown to a great height when the device is set OE .and bursting with a heavy detonation that can be heard for a considerable distance and producing a brilliant pyrotechnic display by night and a dense cloud in daylight.

This serves both audibly and visually to attract attention to a general locality, and at night serves to illuminate the whole territory thus rendering more dificult the escape of the culprit in case of a theft, burglary or the like. The flare, which continues to issue from the device for a considerable length of time after the-aerial proj ectile has been discharged, serves to guide those whoseatt'ention has been attracted by the aerial projectile to the specific location of the trouble. The flare also serves as a means of illumination.

Other and more specific objects of the invention are to provide a thoroughly reliable and eflicient pyrotechnic device that retains its operative condition indefinitely or until discharged and isalways in readiness for use; to provide a device of the aforesaid character that is electrically operated; to provide, in combination with a pyrotechnic signal, a system whereby the signal may-be set off'trom one 1926. Serial No. 100,751.

or more remote locations; to provide, in a system of the aforesaid character that is electrically operated, one or more circuit closers that is or are adapted to be automatically actuated by the intrusion of an unauthorized person or persons into forbidden quarters; to provide in such a system means for rendering the same inoperative at will; and to provide a dual alarm system that is electrically operate ed and involves a source ofenerg a pyrotechnic signal, an electrically energized sig nal, one or more circuit closers'ot' the above mentioned natureior automatically closing a circuit, and a plurality of circuits, preferably all having the same'source oienergy, by which, through the operation of one of said circuit closures, either the pyrotechnic alarm is set off, or the electrically energized alarm is actuated, according to the position of a selective switch that is included in the system, and i by which, through the closing of another switchi-n case the selective switch is set to efiect the actuation of the electrically energized signalthe pyrotechnic signal is fired.

Objects additionalto the foregoing will become apparent as I proceed to describe the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings whereinFig. 1 represents a side elevation of the electrically operated pyrotechnicsignal or alarm; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal I section through the same; Figs. '3 and 4 are cross sections through the device on the respective lines 33' and 4 4 of Fig. 2; and F 5 is a diagram serving to illustrate the system.

The pyrotechnic device. is comprised of a base 1 to which is fitted one end of a barrel 2. The base has a bore that is shown as being incidentto the axis of the barrel 2, and the inner end of the bore is enlarged and occupied by athimb'le 3. A tube 5 has its inner end fitted within the thimble 3 and projects a material distanceinto the barrel 2. The space between the barrel and tube is filled with a quantity of suitable flare producing material designated 6, and said material is covered by a dished annual washer 8 that is pressed into the barrelfZ and held by friction. A patch 9 of suitable material, such as cloth, preferably impregnated with a highly infiaimnable substance, is inserted between the central portion or the Washer 8 and the material 6 and eX- tends over the topof the tube 5.

Pressed into the top of the barrel 2 above the Washer 8 is an aerial projectile or detonaof paper or the like.

tor 10, the same comprising a hollow core 11 that is filled with a suitable powder, and the core is encased within a-heavy Wrapping 12 The projectile is enveloped by a sack 15 of cloth or other material appropriate for the purpose and across thelower open end'of the'sack is disposed a patch 16, similar to the one previously described and designated 9. Thesack and patch serve to support an impelling charge 17 of powder of suitable quality and the fire from 'said charge, or from the patch'16, is adapted to be communicated to the'contents ofthe core 11 by powder contained in a tube18 that is inserted through the lower end of thelpro-. jectileand extends substantially to the patch a 16. 'To insure the fire reaching the contents 7 of the tube 18, a'fuse 19, is insertedthrough diametrically opposed holes in the tube, the

ends of the fuse being in juxtapositionpto th'e patch 16. The space within the barrel above the aerialprojectile is shown as filled: with a body 20 of mineral wool 'or'other' suitable material which isjreadily dislodged by the projectile. The end of the barrel nay be. closed'by a cap 21. V

Fitted within the thimble 3 below the tube 5 is a hollow plug 23 that contains a quantity of suitable highly inflammable substance within which is embedded the terminals 25 0f electrical conductors designated a and b; The terminals 25 are bridged by an igniter 26' that is fused when current is directed through it and sets fire tothefsurrounding body of inflammable material. A fuse 28 occupies the tube-5 and at 1each end joins a deposit 29 of combustible material, There- Y fore, when the ignitersets fireto the inflam-I mable' material surrounding it, the fire is vcommunicated through the fuse 28 toithe patch 9jwhich serves to distribute the igni tion to' the flare'material 6 and to the atch of the core 10 during the ascentofthe pro- 16 which, in turn, sets off the impelling c arge 17 of the aerialpro'jectile and ignites, through the fuse 19,the powder'within the tube 18 which serves to carry the fire to thecontents jectilej I V v V a The base, the barrel and the cap'maybe made ofany suitable materialtli-at will ,withstand prolonged exposure to "the; weather,

,and if, as in the instance of the pyrotechnic signals, shown in my 'companionapplication hereinbefore referred to, the base is made of wood and the barrel of heavy paper or cardboard, theparts are very thoroughly water-proofed. Also, the body 20 ofv mineral "wool or" the like which occupies the end of tem maybe employed in stores, manufactur ing plants, banks and other institutions,the circuit closers belngassoclated, in some 1nstances, with vaults, safes, money'drawers, I cash registers and the like. e p In the diagram, the pyrotechnic signal is designated generally'by the reference letter A, and the source 'of electric energy is designated' B and is conventionally shown as a battery.

The current'may flow from the '73- source-of energy through a conducto'r la to I the signal, and return through theconductors b and c which are adapted to be connected. V

by aswitch C. V 7 x V I Thepyrotechnic signal is located outside the building, preferably near or on the roof thereof, and as indicated in dot and dash line in Fig. 1, the same may be sustained by a bracket 30- that is attachedto 'a suitable support 31, as a part-of thebuilding. It may be mentioned in this connection that in some instances I; propose locating the signal just. inside theiexhaust'end of the ventpipe of thedwelling where ,it is concealed from view yet from which location it will effectively serve its purpose) Located at a desired place within the building, iasr in a bed chamber,

is asecondary alarm designated at D. This alarm ;may beinthe nature of'an electric V buzzeror bellor, nsome cases, 1t might b a light, or it may ,be'a combin'ation of'a visual and audible signal. selective switch E is located at a convenient place, as near an 7 entrance door F, andsaid door is'equipped with acirc-uit closer G, as are'also the windows designated 'H,'the .circuitclosers of the windows being represented conventionally at I. -Of-cour s-e, as'many doors and Windows may .be equippedwith circuit closers as is desired orthoufiht necessary; 'When the selective switch designated .LX, current is adapted to flow conductors f, and f or 7, circuit closers I or G and conductors g or g to the vsource.

710 is thrown to the position from the semen, through the conductors i a and (Z,'-alarm D, conductor a, switch E,

Thus, if the door or either of the windows 7 isQopened while the selective switch occupies position the alarm D will be energized whereupon a person hearin it may close switch C and thus set off t e pyrotechnic signal by the fusing of the igniter 26.. The a secondary alarm is employed for notifying those in the home that a door has been opened i I or an attempt has been made to gain entrance through a windowby an unauthorized'perconnectinglthe circuit closers to the pyrotechnic'ala'rm of avoiding the firing of the same by an accidental actuation of the cir- 01 vwindow.

'son" and it has the advantage over directly cuit closers by a proper opening of a doorj,

Onithe other hand, when the occupants of a the home are away, itis desirable then that the pyrotechnic signal be sounded if any one plish this, the switch E is turned to position Y whereupon a circuit is established from the source of energy through the conductor a, signal A, a part of the conductorb, conductor h, switch E and thence through one of the branches previously described including one of the circuit closers, to the source.

, Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A pyrotechnic alarm comprising a base, a barrel surmounting the base, a quantity of flare material within said barrel, an aerial projectile and its impelling charge within the barrel in advance of said flare material,

an electric igniter in the base, and means for communicating fire therefrom to the impel- .ling charge of the aerial projectile and to the adjacent end of the quantity of flare material.

2. A pyrotechnic alarm comprising a base, a barrel surmounting the base, a quantity of flare material within said barrel, an aerial projectile and its impelling charge within the barrel in advance of said flare material, an electric igniter in the base, means for communicating fire therefrom to the impelling charge of the aerial projectile and to the adjacent end of the quantity of flare material, and a cap removably applied to the end of the barrel. Y Y

3. A pyrotechnic alarm comprising a base, a'barrel surmounting the base, a quantity of flare material within the barrel, an aerial detonator and its impelling charge within the barrel in advance of said flare material, said detonator involving an explosive charge, means for communicating the ignition of the impelling charge to the explosive charge, an electric lgniter within the base, and means for communicating fire therefrom to the impelling charge of the. detonator and to the adjacent end of the quantity of flare material.

4. A pyrotechnic alarm comprising a base,

i a barrel surmounting the base, a tube extending from the base a distance into the barrel, a

,quantity of flare material occupying the space between the tube and barrel, an aerial projectile and its impelling-charge occupying the barrel in advance of the aforesaidtube, an electric igniter within the base, means for communicating fire therefrom through the aforesaid tube to the impelling charge of the projectile and to the adjacent end of they quantity of flare material.

5.'A pyrotechnic alarm comprising a base having a bore, a barrel extending from the base and into which the bore of the base opens, a thimble inserted within the end of said bore adjacent the barrel, a tube projecting from the thimble a suitable distance into the barrel, a quantity of flare material occupying the space between the tube and the barrel, an aerial projectile and its impelling charge within the barrel in advance of said quantity of flare material, an electric igniter within the thimble and adjacent the end of said tube, a fuse extending through the tube for communicating fire fromthe igniter to the impelling charge of the'projec-tile and to the adj acent end of the quantity of flarematerial.

6. A pyrotechnic alarm comprising a base, a barrel secured to and extending from the base, the base having a substantially central bore that opens into the barrel, a tube extending from said bore a suitable distance into the barrel, a quantity of flare material filling the barrel about said tube, a fire communicating patch overlying the end of the tube and the adjacent end of said quantity of flare material, a member disposed above said quantity of flare material, said member having an aperture through which a portion a of the patch is exposed, an aerial projectile and its impelling' charge enclosed within a. sack and occupyin the portion of the barrel beyond said member, said sack having an opening opposite the opening in said member, a patch of fire communicating material closing said opening, a fuse extending through said tube, and an electrical igniter within the base in operative relation to the adjacent end of said fuse.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

HARRY o. GAMMETEB. 

